Pasadena man enters plea in 2013 murder of Curtis Bay man

Pamela Wood, The Baltimore Sun

A Pasadena man has entered an Alford plead to conspiring with two others to lure a Curtis Bay man into the woods where he was shot and stabbed to death last January.

Tremain Celos Calhoun Jr., 25, entered the plea to one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court on Friday. An Alford plea means Calhoun does not admit guilt, but acknowledges prosecutors have enough evidence to convict him.

Assistant State's Attorney Kelly Poma allege that Calhoun, Eric Banks and Erica Banks were all involved in the death of Darren Dwayne Bell, 26, in the early morning hours of Jan. 27, 2013.

Poma said in a second 911 call, Bell said, "I think I'm about to be killed. Track the call." After that, there was the sound of a gunshot, screaming, and a voice believed to be Bell saying he had been shot.

Poma alleges that Erica Banks had a dispute with Bell over $200 he owed her for drugs.

Prosecutors say Bell had been out that night at a club with Calhoun, Banks and Eric Banks, who is Erica's father, and the three ended up at a desolate wooded area. Poma said prosecutors believe Eric Banks shot Bell, then stabbed him with a knife provided by Calhoun.

Police who arrived on the scene found Erica Banks and Calhoun in an SUV and Eric Banks emerging from the woods. Bell's body was found in the woods.

Calhoun's sentencing is scheduled for May, following trials for Erica Banks and Eric Banks. Calhoun agreed to testify at both trials in exchange for having other charges dropped.